Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: How Stopped-Up Are Ya?
Date: September 8, 2025
Hosts: Jack Armstrong & Joe Getty (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode of Armstrong & Getty explores several timely and provocative topics through the hosts’ signature satirical, skeptical lens. Highlights include a look at President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric towards Chicago and mainstream media’s reaction, debates about crime policy and incarceration, generational naïveté in politics, cybersecurity threats from China, amusing ambivalence about emerging AI tech, and a lively discussion about the philosophical origins of rights in America. The episode is laced with humor, pointed criticisms, and candid personal anecdotes (including prunes and pancakes).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump, Chicago, and Media Overreactions

(03:50 - 06:56)

• The episode opens with the hosts mocking media reactions to President Trump’s threat to “clean up” Chicago, following a manipulated social post referencing “Apocalypse Now.”
• Trump’s executive order rebrands the Department of Defense as “Department of War” for rhetorical effect, which draws a storm of literal interpretations from legacy media and local Chicago officials.
• Quote:
  • “How have you not figured out in a dozen years that he says over-the-top things to get you to react to them like they’re literally true? Embarrass yourselves.” — Joe Getty (05:29)

Notable Segment:
[04:10 - 06:56] – Breakdown of Trump’s “Department of War” trolling, ICE and National Guard speculation, and the inability of media to resist Trump’s bait.

2. Chicago’s Crime, Politics & ShotSpotter

(06:35 - 13:55)

• The hosts lambast Chicago’s Democratic leadership, targeting Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor J.B. Pritzker’s responses to crime.

• Discuss the removal of ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection technology, and Brandon Johnson’s botched negotiations with the company.

• Quote:

  • “If mayoral idiocy were justification for a National Guard deployment, the troops would be headed to Chicago right now.” — Jack Armstrong quoting Rich Lowry (08:58)

• Dive into arguments about incarceration as a crime deterrent, citing statistics and studies.

• Quote:

  • “We locked up the people who killed other people and the murder rate plunged, Brandon.” — Jack Armstrong (13:07)

Notable Segment:
[07:20 - 13:35] – Exposé of political missteps around ShotSpotter, critiques on progressive approaches to public safety, and sobering crime stats.

3. Generational Naïveté & Youth Voting

(13:55 - 14:46)

• Discussion shifts to why progressives want to lower the voting age.
• Quote:
  • “The voting age ought to be 30, never mind 16.” — Jack Armstrong (14:38)

4. Blue Light Glasses & Science Skepticism

(18:47 - 20:49)

• Quick debunk of blue light filtering glasses: “don’t do anything” according to a new study.
• The hosts riff on scientific dogma, replication problems, and what happens if politics enters science debates.
• Quote:
  • “Questioning science is what you’re supposed to do.” — Jack Armstrong (19:43)

Notable Segment:
[19:01 - 20:49] – Playful skepticism toward health fads and the politicization of science.

5. The Great Prune Saga & Aging Humor

(21:55 - 23:54)

• Joe shares his doctor’s recommendation to eat prunes, relating the story with self-deprecating humor about getting older.
• Quote:
  • “If this show were a dating app, that would be a hard swipe left, me talking about prunes.” — Joe Getty (21:58)
• Jack muses about gut health advertising and mood claims.

6. Chinese Cyber Attacks, TikTok, and AI Deepfakes

(27:50 - 34:35)

• Deep dive into the alleged Chinese Salt Typhoon cyberattack, data theft from billions, and the strategic use of TikTok.
• Growing concerns about AI voice impersonations and phishing—both on the geopolitical and household level.
• Quote:
  • “With AI, you just ask, ‘Hey, Senator Jones, what do we have on him?’ Here's his last known addresses, blah, blah...” — Jack Armstrong (30:20)
• Anecdotes on how families might need “code words” to guard against deepfake scams.

Notable Segment:
[30:01 - 34:01] – Analysis of Chinese cyber capabilities and the future of AI-powered scams.

7. Living With AI: Cars, Kids, and Social Weirdness

(35:50 - 39:53)

• Joe describes how he and his kids interact (often uncomfortably) with Elon Musk’s “Grok” AI in the family Tesla.
• Funny and awkward moments when AI answers questions about music… or teenage moods.
• Discussion of “uncanny valley” reactions, AI romantic relationships, and whether humans will universally find AI friendliness creepy.
• Quotes:
  • “You’re a silicon chip, why do you have an opinion on jazz?” — Jack Armstrong (37:28)
  • “It gives me the willies, like practically chills.” — Joe Getty (38:45)

8. Where Do Our Rights Come From? (The Tim Kaine Controversy)

(45:01 - 49:14)

• The hosts respond with incredulity and indignation to Senator Tim Kaine’s recent claim that rights “come from government,” not the Creator.
• Citing Jefferson, Hamilton, and other Founders, they argue America’s founding philosophy is based on God-given rights.
• Quote:
  • “He mocked the idea that we’re endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights... That is not only true, but self-evident.” — Jack Armstrong (47:58)

Notable Segment:
[45:01 - 49:14] – Fundamental debate about natural versus government-bestowed rights, with historical citations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:29 | Joe Getty | “How have you not figured out in a dozen years that he says over-the-top things…?” | | 08:58 | Jack Armstrong | “If mayoral idiocy were justification for a National Guard deployment…” | | 13:07 | Jack Armstrong | “We locked up the people who killed other people and the murder rate plunged…” | | 14:38 | Jack Armstrong | “The voting age ought to be 30, never mind 16.” | | 19:43 | Jack Armstrong | “Questioning science is what you’re supposed to do.” | | 21:58 | Joe Getty | “If this show were a dating app, that would be a hard swipe left…” | | 30:20 | Jack Armstrong | “With AI, you just ask, ‘Hey, Senator Jones, what do we have on him?’” | | 37:28 | Jack Armstrong | “You’re a silicon chip, why do you have an opinion on jazz?” | | 38:45 | Joe Getty | “It gives me the willies, like practically chills.” | | 47:58 | Jack Armstrong | “He mocked the idea that we’re endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights…” |

Additional Highlights

• [21:33] – Amusing recall of Boy Scouts canoeing in masks during COVID; illustration of policy absurdities.
• [43:54 - 52:01] – Light closing banter, recurring sponsor ad breaks (skipped per instructions).

Episode Tone

• Satirical, irreverent, often exasperated, political and cultural skepticism.
• Frequent use of biting humor and sarcasm to underscore critiques.
• Willingness to mix hard facts and data with light-hearted asides and personal stories.

Summary Takeaway

“How Stopped-Up Are Ya?” is an episode packed with the hosts’ trademark interplay—blending sharp political commentary, cultural skepticism, and earthy humor. Whether they’re dismantling political rhetoric, exposing feckless leadership, or laughing at their own age-induced ailments, Armstrong & Getty provide both entertainment and substantial food for thought for listeners skeptical of mainstream narratives, advocates of civil liberties, and anyone trying to keep up with the swiftly-evolving weirdness of 21st-century America.